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With a host of Cody defenders nearby, Powell’s Alyssa Hildebrand lunges for a loose basketball during Saturday’s conference game between the two Park County schools. Tribune photo by Ben Wetzel

Girls basketball comes up just short against Cody

A back-and-forth battle with Cody ended with Powell’s Lady Panther basketball team on the wrong side of the score.

The Cody Fillies erased a narrow Powell High School lead late and held on for a 23-22 win at the Schweitzer Gym on Friday.

PHS head coach Luke Danforth said he was proud of the girls’ effort in the hard-fought game, but wished it had “turned out just one basket different.”

It’s the second near miss for the Lady Panthers this month, following an overtime loss in Mountain View on Jan. 6.

“Those are tough pills to swallow, but we’re getting better and we need to keep getting better,” Danforth said.

Powell (5-5 overall, 2-3 in Class 3A West) bested Cody in turnovers and rebounding in the low-scoring contest. The team used those advantages to take 40 shots to Cody’s 24, but “just didn’t get them to drop,” Danforth said.

“Part of that is credit to Cody challenging shots so well but part of it is up to us to take advantage of good shot opportunities,” said Danforth, adding, “We just need to keep working to find a rhythm on offense.”